Kinect-based Upper Limb Rehabilitation System in Stroke Patients

The investigators have developed the kinect-based upper extremity rehabilitation program and designed this protocol to prove the efficacy of this program. In brief, subacute stroke patients allocated to intervention group will receive the kinect based-rehabilitation program plus conventional occupational therapy and patients allocated to control group will receive the sham virtual rehabilitation plus conventional occupational therapy, for 10 days. 20 patients with subacute stroke will be allocated into each group and after completing the 10 days intervention, they will be assessed by using objective assessment tools for upper extremity function.

The developed kinect-based rehabilitation system will be used for 30min/session. Conventional 30min occupational therapy also will be applied for the patient enrolled.

For the sham virtual rehabilitation, computer-based cognitive rehabilitation program will be used. Patients will be encouraged to use their affected arm to push the button but the motion will be minimal and not related to the concept of upper extremity rehabilitation.

This is composed of 6 stages. Higher score means better function. The description for each stage as follows. Flaccidity: no voluntary movement. Synergies or minimal voluntary movement. Synergies performed voluntary (spasticity gratest). Some deviation from synergy. Independent or isolated movement. Individual joint movement nearly normal with minimal spasticity.

Individuals are seated at a table, facing a rectangular box that is divided into two square compartments of equal dimension by means of a partition. One hundred and fifty, 2.5 cm, colored, wooden cubes or blocks are placed in one compartment or the other. The individual is instructed to move as many blocks as possible, one at a time, from one compartment to the other for a period of 60 seconds. The BBT is scored by counting the number of blocks carried over the partition from one compartment to the other during the one-minute trial period.

Inclusion Criteria: Age from 20 to 80 years Stroke within prior 3 months Unilateral upper extremity weakness Exclusion Criteria: Uncontrolled medical conditions Who cannot obey the simple command Who has the hemispatial neglect, visual impairment, apraxia

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea